Tighennif in northwestern Algeria has yielded the oldest North African hominins associated with faunas and Acheulean stone tools. However, earlier excavations were conducted with paleontological rather than archaeological questions in mind, and without systematic excavation techniques and rigorous documentation. To evaluate the long-term research potential of this important site, we recently launched new investigations at Tighennif, and we discovered considerable amount of in situ fossil bones and Acheulean stone tools, with great potential, and wonderful opportunity to investigate H. erectus behavior and adaptation in North Africa within deposits estimated approximately to 1.2-0.8 Ma (million years ago).

Tighennif is central for investigating the beginning of the Acheulean in North Africa and for documenting the archaeological evidence for Homo erectus activities and paleoecology. Specifically, we would like to test the hypothesis linking arid environment to H. erectus behavior and land use patterns that might have emerged at a crucial time in human evolution, namely the Early-Middle Pleistocene Transition (MPT). Paleoecological data suggest that during the MPT (1.2-0.8 Ma) Africa experienced a major global climate change characterized by increased aridity and open vegetation. Further, the African bovid fossil record suggests a final phase of increased arid-adapted taxa around this interval. This climatic change is apparently associated with major events related to H. erectus evolution and behavioral innovation, including the broad geographic expansion of this hominin species in North Africa and Europe, increase in body size and the rapid expansion of cranial capacity (938-1067cm3) with cognitive implications such as development and sophistication of the Acheulean technology, and manipulation and control of fire. Chronologically, the site of Tighennif correlates with the occurrence of this open/dry environment that took place in Africa, and the paleoecological evidence suggesting that H. erectus fossils were associated with a savanna-like fauna and an Acheulean industry. The Tighennif fauna suggests an open and dry environment although with a permanent body of water nearby as indicated by the presence of hippo. Compared with early Acheulean tools dated to 1.76-1.74 Ma (e.g., Kokiselei, Kenya; Konso, Ethiopia), the Tighennif artifacts appear to be more sophisticated, implying a higher level of hominid skill and cognition. For instance, in addition to a fairly materialized symmetry on the bifaces and successful production of large cutting tools, the hominins used a novel flaking technique called Kombewa that involves the production of flakes with dual ventral faces, providing the hominins with the advantage of shaping cleavers with convex and sharp edges, and for making large scrapers.

Thus, Tighennif provides an opportunity to examine H. erectus behavioral patterns and how this hominin species lived in dry/open environment. We propose to undertake multidisciplinary investigations at Tighennif including: 1) to expand the excavations in the deposits where stone tools and fossil bones were test-excavated recently, and to assess site formation processes; 2) to reconstruct North African paleoecology for understanding the relationship between the environment and H. erectus tool use behavior; 3) to characterize and describe the lithic technology manufactured and used by H. erectus; 4) to document H. erectus subsistence patterns and to investigate the nature of the accumulation of the remains using taphonomic and zooarchaeological approaches; and 5) to firmly date Tighennif by means of paleomagnetism, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), and mammalian biochronology. In addition, we will study the stage of evolution of animal taxa present in Tighennif and compare them to the well dated East African faunal assemblages in order to provide more precise and secure information on the age of the site.